In light of the previous article from Obadiah 1:2-9, Obadiah the prophet was foretelling destruction on the country of Edom. I’ve been putting off the “why” of why Edom was going to be destroyed, although regular readers of this site might have caught a little bit of this back in a study on Lamentations, where Lamentations 4:21-22 confirmed that Edom’s sin would be punished.
For many generations, there had been hostility between the descendants of Esau and the descendants of Jacob. Searching for “Edom” in the Bible, it appears that the country of Edom was conquered by Israel in David’s time, but by the time of Obadiah, the kingdom that David ruled over was not in the same shape that it once was. Since then, Edom had rebelled against Israel and/or Judah, and was its own country.
In the next section of the book of Obadiah, it sounds like the people of Edom not only didn’t help their relatives (i.e., the nation of Judah) when Nebuchadnezzar’s army conquered and destroyed Jerusalem, but they (i.e., the Edomites) actively worked against the Judeans when they most needed help.
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
you will be covered with shame;
you will be destroyed forever.Obadiah 1:10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/oba.1.10.NIV
The book of Obadiah continues with more descriptions of why the Edomites were going to receive punishment from God.
- Verse 10 (see above) talks about violence done to Israelites by those of Edom.
- Verse 11 indicates that, rather than stepping up to help their neighbors, Edom watched as Babylon looted Jerusalem, and may have even participated in taking what belonged to others.
- Verse 12 talks about the people of Edom gloating over their relatives’ destruction, celebrating that they were conquered. While this verse (and the next two) are phrased as instructions not to be hostile towards the Israelites, it sounds like that is actually what the Edomites were doing.
- Verse 13 further suggests that the Edomites not only didn’t help defend the residents of Jerusalem, but they also joined the Babylonians in taking their stuff. I imagine word getting out that Nebuchadnezzar’s army had broken down Jerusalem’s wall and had exiled its people, so even though a few people were left around Jerusalem, the people of Edom said to themselves, “Hey, free stuff!”
- Then, verse 14 suggests something even worse. (While this verse was written as something that the people of Edom should not do, the fact that this command was given suggests that it actually took place.) Apparently, those from Edom not only killed some who were trying to escape, but they also turned over others who were running away, giving them back to the Babylonians!
We can also find evidence of ancient Edom’s sins and their consequences elsewhere in the Bible. Ezekiel 35 pronounces judgment upon Edom for how it treated the land of Israel, including sharing responsibility for the deaths of Israelites, and wanting to take the land for themselves (probably after the Babylonians defeated them). Amos 1:11-12 also judges Edom, indicating that those from Edom killed men and women of Israel.
So, God was not being arbitrary when He prophesied destruction on the nation of Edom. Like the Israelites before them, Edom had earned its punishment. And, like the Israelites, God held back punishment for a while, but God’s mercy must not be seen as God giving someone a free pass to remain in their sins (see 2 Peter 3:9).
If we have any recurring unconfessed sin in our lives, may we get it out in front of God and seek paths that avoid it in the future…before punishment from Him is necessary to correct things for our own good.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for August 3, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 1 (Hosea-Micah), by Harold Shank. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 